Toy



May 29, 1928.

' E. W. WHITED ET AL TOY Filed April 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INlLEfIiIBR S I M d. #5:;

M 1 y ay May 29, 1928. 1,671,755

E. w. WHITED ET AL TOY Filed April 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /Z8 30 1? 27 V /Z7 Z9 INVENTOR Patented May 29, 1928.

UNI-TEDSTATESPATENT OFF ICE.

EDMUND w. HITE]: AND CHARLES R. nonens, 0F PITTSBURGH, PEN SYLVANIA.

TOY.

Application 'filed April 10, 1925. Serial No. 22,182. i

The present invention relates broadly to toys and more particularly totoys adapted for material handling, such for example, as excavating or elevating bucket toys or electromagnetic liftingtoys, althou lithe utility of the invention is not limited in this respect, it being apparent that certain of the features are adaptable to commercial installations, and such we consider as constituting part of our invention.

At the present time it is customary both in toys and commercial structures, to provide material handling apparatus comprising grab buckets adapted to be opened at any desired point for permitting discharge.

of their contents. Ordinarily, however, the trip line for such buckets has required a separate operating drum, and the bucket has been of such construction as not to prevent sifting therethrough of the finer materials being handled. g

The present invention has for certain of its objects the provision of improved trip line operating means, as well as the provision of an improved form of grab bucket.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide. a structure adapted to be readily assembled or dismantled, and comprising an improved form of operating mechanism.

Still another object ofthe inventionis to provide a mechanism of such nature that diflerent forms of material handlin units, such as buckets, magnets and the li e, may be utilized at will Without requiring any substantial change in the operating mechanism. i y

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not definethe limits of our invention, as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made Without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of our broader claims.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one form of material handling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, partly broken away, illustrating the grab bucket in open positionto permit the dis charge therefrom of the contents;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view through the grab bucket illustrating more clearly the construction thereof;

broken away, illustrated in Figure 5;

2 is provided with a Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale on the lineIV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating in detail a portion of the operating mechanism Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly of the operating mechanism Figure 7 is a detail sectional View on the line VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional View on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 6 illustrating the construction of one of the operating drums; i v

Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the grab bucket replaced by an electromagnetic lifting means; Figure 10 is a bottom plan view illustrating one form of electromagnetic lifting means prior to its completion; and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 illustrating the magnetic lifting means in its completed condition.

In carrying out the present invention, there may be provided a material handling apparatus comprising a suitable base 2 havmg projectingupwardly therefrom a mast 3. This mast may be of any desired construction, but is preferably of substantially rectangular cross section, and is provided at its upper and lower ends with projecting pins 4. These pins arepreferably imbedded in the ends of the mast, and have their projecting portions formed with a flat side 5, the remainder of the pins being threaded as clearly indicated. Conveniently, thebase recess or opening 6 ex tendingtherethrough and closed by a foot plate 7 suitably secured to the base. This foot plate is provided with an opening adapted to receive the lower pin 4 to provide a rotatable bearing therefor. After the pin has been inserted through the foot plate, a washer 8 is slipped thereover, and the washer is held in position by a nut 9 threaded onto the pin. In order to prevent the Washer from loosening upon rotation of the mast, it is preferably provided with an 0 ening of such shape as to substantially con orm to the contourof the pin, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, whereby rotation of the mast will cause the pin, washer and nut to Ill) adjusted as required, to prevent too easy operation of the mast, whereby it may be maintained inany desired adjusted position. For firmly securing the mast inposition, there may be provided a pair of detachable braces'10, having secured to their upper ends plates 11, and to their lower ends similar plates 12. These plates 11 are adapted to be slipped downwardly over the upper pin 4. T;hereafter awasher 13, of; a construction similar to that of the washer 8, and illustrated-{in ,detail in Figure ;7 isislip'ped over the upper-pin and aholding nut-14 is threaded downwardly to position thereon;

As illustrated in Figure 4, each of the plates 12, may. be formed ,with; an elongated docking slot 15,.the slot: preferably having one portion thereof enlarged to provide an .eye ;16. -Thiseye is of such dimensions that it may be bodily moved downwardly over the head, 17 of aflockin screwior the like projecting upwardly from the base =-2. Dhereafter, the, plates may: be slip dlaterally to bring the narrow portion 0 each slot -15aunder the "head; and thereby, firmly secure the :platesin position; It will be understood that by; reasoniof this construction the braces may bev removed at will,- butthat wheneplacedz in'position they provide a firm support for the vmast.

a Adjacent its;,lower end the mast is provided with a'hracket 18 adapted to receive a pivot pin 19 forming a pivotal mounting for theboom 20.- At its outer end the boom is provided-with. an opening through which extendUtwo-pins 21 upon each ofwhich is mounted apulley 22. Formed in thelower porti0n-of;the;n1ast 3, above the brfacket 18, is a similar 1 opening: 23 having mounted therein similar pulleys}v 24. Passing oyer the upper pulley 22 in the boom, and thence downwardly and under the upper pulley- 24 .in theimast is =a hoist line 25., Cooperatcombined hoisting; and-trip line drum 29.

Ifdesired, the drums may be formed from a single piece ofl material to provide inte- 55 gral: shafts 30,-; although preferably, the

drums will be constructed in the form of sleeves adaptedto he slipped endwise over separate shafts, and held in position thereon; against rotation by means of suitable clamping and, set-{screws 31. As clearly shown in Figure 8, each of the drums is pr ;vided: with a {peripherally extending, groove 32, these grooves'being of;general V -shape;-in cross section,L whereby a line; positioned therein tends to become tightly wedged,

thereby being held against movement independently of the drum. The boom drum 28 may be provided with an operating crank 33, while the combined hoist and tri line drum 29 may be provided with a similar operating crank 34. As a matter of expediency, andtopermit compactness of construction, these cranks are preferably mounted on oppositesides of the drums, whereby: the t o r n s m y be Simultaneously operated without interference,

We have found-that conven ently the plates 27hmay" beutilized not only for the purpose of bearing brackets, but also for the,

purposebof mpo i g br ki g ctio on the drums. ,Forthis purpose, the plates are preferably provided adjacent each of the drums with a transversely extending screw 1 .v These s ews m h a e e bear .inpne oi the plates, ut; preferably have a threaded engagement with the other of the plates. By reason A of, this 1 construction, it willbe apparent that rotation, of the screws in the properdirection will be eflective for drawing; the {plates together. In this manner,the,plates may becaused to bind more or less against theendspf the drums 28 .and 29, thereby holding the drums against too free rotation, and insuring holding of the drums against; accidentat movement. Int order; that the desired braking action may be: applied to each oi the drums independentl oi the other, the lates 27. are preferab y shaped as 1 clearly shown in Figure 6 to provide a division efiectiye between the drums. Each independent projection us. formedisaprov w thin own d al adju i g: s rew 13 ,;W y

a iust s t m denp ib 1 glT -m s. tl wer ig the b m 20 at vwi i ttherei prev d dabeemiq e 36,,suitably seeureddn any desired mannerjto the upper and of the boom at one end, and thence passing downwardly over a pulley 37 ,mvu ed ter su e gra ns h upp a di hema tyte h m, 28-: -:By reason of this construction, it will be apparent that. upon rotation of the dpunn28, in one direc-.

tion the hoom .may be, raised,,or upon rota tion of the drum. ,,in, he,.opposit e direction t y b l e d n th ds re l sx nt B3 r a of th ibr k ns M e mPQS d-Qn d um 8 y t ep a 2mm tum2 y be held against too free rotatiomthereb {preventing accidental lowering, of the. m u ing t e perati pit appar tus r The grababucket iiaymbe conveniently formed of .similarsect-ions 38 and 39, preferably formed of sheet ynaterial, After..the sections have been blanked put,,one of- .the

sections is so shaped as I to slightly expand v9 of c dgs -4Q,:eWl F a r .s t is subjected to a. suitable ,fonming operation to slightly contract its edge 41. I By reason of this construction, one of the sections is all ners of the sections are trip arms 43, these arms all being oined at their mner ends to a common eye 44, to, which eye is fastened the trip line 26. With the construction described, it will be apparentthat during the normal operation of the parts, the two lines 25 and 26 will be moved a like distance, due to the fact that they are both wound around a common drum. If, however, it is desired to open the bucket at any time, this. may be accomplished by shortening the trip line 26 relatively to the hoist line 25,. to thereby draw the trip arms 43 upwardly to pull the sections apart. Thismay' be accomplished in accordance with the present invention by means of a trip lever 45 having a pivotal mounting on one of the clamping screws 35, andnormally lying in the position clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6. At its lower end the trip lever is formed with an eye 46 througlrwhich the trip line 26 passes. By swinging the trip lever from the position illustrated in, Figure 1, to the full line position illustrated. in Figure2, the trip lme will be drawn out of its normal plane or path of travel, thereby, shortening it relatively to the hoist line 25. This will be effective for opening the grab bucket as desired.

The trip lever 45 is preferably constructed of flexible material adapted to. be easily shaped as desired. When so constructed, the upper end may easily be bent laterally, as illustrated in dottedlines in Figure 5, when the trip-lever is operated, to bring the same into position to be interengaged with the head of one of the screws 35 whereby the bucket will remain open for any required length of time without further attention on the part of the operator. 1

This construction also possesses another advantage which will be readily apparent from an inspection of Figure 6. By changing the angular relationship of the ends of the trip lever, the relative lengths of the lines- 25 and 26 may be correspondingly varied to thereby always insure exactly the required lengths for the proper operation of the parts.

At certain times it may be desirable toreplace the grab bucket by another form of lifting means. In Figures 9 to 11, both inclusive, we have illustrated one form of lifting means adapted to be expeditiously substituted for the grab bucket before described. This lifting means may be of electromagnet type,.comprising a casing 48, having three equi-distantly spaced openings 49 formed therein adapted to permit the passage therethrough of lifting links 50. 'lheselinks at their upper ends may all be ioinedto a common eye 51, towhich are adapted to be connected the trip line 26 and the hoist line 25. A suitable conductor 52 may lead outwardly through anotheropening 53 in the casing,

to a suitable source of current for energizing the magnet. In Figure 10 the casing is illustrated in inverted position as comprising a one-piece casting having a per1pherally extending protecting and reinforcing flangeand a central core 54. Between the coreand the flange is a coil of wire 55 of a size to be easily positioned therein. .After i the coil of wire has been so positioned, the casing is adapted to be filled with suitable sealing material, such as wax 56, to thereby hold the parts firmly in position and protect the coil against injury. This wax not only protects the coil and holds it in the casing, but also preferabl surrounds the lower ends of the liftinglmks 50 and prevents movement thereof relatively to the easing. This comprises an inexpensive and expedient method of making a lifting means adaptable for use with a toy of the general character herein contemplated.

Where the electromagnet is substituted for the bucket, it will be apparent that either one of the lines 25 or 26 may be used independently of the other, if desired, or

both lines may be utilized simultaneously.

If desired, the entire apparatus may be mounted on wheels, casters or the like, to facilitate movement from one place to another.

Gertain advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of the material handling apparatus comprising an operating mechanism in the form of a unit havin drums mounted in combined bracket an braking means.

Other advantages of the invention arise from the provision of a structure comprising a hoist line and a trip line passing around a single operating drum, and in which the opening or tripping of the part is effected by a separabl movable lever. Still other advantages of t e invention arise from the provision of the different material handling units, such as a grab bucket, and electromagnetic lifting means, or the like, adapted to be substituted at will.

We claim:

Q 1. Material handling apparatus, comprising a material handling means, a hoist line shortening the effective length of the trip line, substantially as described.

'2. Material handling apparatus, comprising an openable bucket, a hoist line therefor,

a trip line therefor having suitable guiding means, a common drum for both of said lines, and a pivotally mounted "lever operatiyely connected to the trip line, the movement of saidlever being effective for'defi'ecting the trip line out'oi' the standing positionnormally assu1ned,tl1ereby shortening the eiiective length of the trip line and opening the bucket, substantially as described.

3. A toy material handling apparatus, in-

cluding a supporting means having side 'flanges thereon, drums rotatably carried between the flanges, said flanges being held in frictional engagement withthee'nds of the drums, the frictional engagement between the flange 'and the "drums being substantially constant, and a. line attached to each drum, at-least one line ha'vinga gravity lbw'eredelement attached thereto, the frictional engagement between the flanges and the drums acting to prevent rotation of either drum by the load on the line connected thereto, whereby each drum may be operated independently of the other.

4. A toy material handling apparatus, in-

"cluding a supporting means having side flanges-thereon, drums rotatably carried betwee'n the flanges, saidfianges being held in frictional engagement with the ends of the drums, the frictional engagement between the flanges and the 'drums being substanwith the ends of the drum, the

ti'allyconstant, a line attached to each drum,

at least one line havinga gravity lowered element attached thereto, the frictional 'en- 'gagenient between the flanges and the drums actingto prevent rotation of either drum by the load on the line connected thereto, whereby each drum may be operated independently of the other, and an operating element for each drum.

5; A toy material handling apparatus, comprising 'a'mast, a boom pivotallycarried by'the mast,'a "control line for said boom,

material handling means suspended from said boom, said material handling means having a hoist line and a'trip line, a'supportin means having side flanges thereon onthe mast, drums rotatably carriedbetween the flanges, one of said drums bein effective for operatingthe boom control line, the

otherjdrum beingeflective for simultaneously controlling the hoist line and the trig jhhe of the material handling means, s'ai flanges being held in frictional en agement rictional forcebetween the flanges 'andthe ends of the drumabeing substantially constant,'the frictional engagement between the flanges and 

